Microsoft's Live Labs have released a new free photo service called photosynth. It is a photo splicing service with a difference, its uses lots of images with lots of overlap to create a convincing 3D view that you can zoom in and out "smoothly" around pan around the scene. Such facilities are not new to the web many real estate site now use walkthroughs, but this is pretty impressive and you can create your own, without much effort. there are two technologies involved the first is the ability to reconstruct the scene or object from a bunch of flat photographs, and the second independent technology, called seadragon, that allows seamless scrolling through 100 of MB over the Internet.
There are two parts to creating your own synths. You must first register at the service, (for which you need a windows live ID) then download a small uploaded application, that not only help you prepare the images and upload them but monitors the splicing process.
There are a few crucial limitations. All syths become public (ie can be viewed by anyone via the internet) but you do have the option of setting the licensing (full copyright or a creative commons) during the upload process. Results can only be viewed on PCs running XP or Vista, which must run the direct-X photosynth add-in for Internet explorer. The 20GB of space seems generous, but you will use this up fast.
One downside is the bandwidth required, I have downloaded it, set it up and uploaded my first project using free wifi at an airline lounge that dropped out a few times so I had to be very very patient!
Whilst more and more of the world is getting wired to the broadest-band width, the places I often find myself seem to be less connected at slower rates. So here a few more tips and revisions about trying to travel and upload photos & blog.
1) Turn off automatic updates (found under control panel). This avoids a really long delay before you can even get connected.
2) Resize your photos, for blogs and to emails others, your photos only need a lower resolution and considerably smaller file size (eg 600 by 800 pixels is generally plenty) see earlier resizing post
3) Use the no frills methods, the normal flickr web portal for your web browsers is a bandwidth nightmare (I just had a week of hell trying to use flickr in indonesia, usually waiting 10 minutes plus just to load the log in page! Other times I get a flickr is taking to long to respond message or it crashing out my net connection. You can also access flickr via the mobile portal (http://m.flickr.com/) from any computer and this is a very stripped down version. The biggest trouble for me is this portal does not have access into flickr groups. I also find that the standalone flickr uploader doesn't work on low bandwidth or from internet cafes. If it does work it takes for ever, so I end up using the http://www.flickr.com/photos/upload/ old fashion web page uploader, and patiently waiting.
4) Use offline set up and editing, there are many tools that let you set up blog posts using an off-line editor. I am using Windows Live Writer now to edit this post. Picasa lets you set up local albums of photos n your notebook and then upload them to you web album when you get a good net connection
5) Use email to upload photos. Most services. like Flickr, Photobucket and Blogger all offer email upload facilities. Some do take a while (several hours) before the updates are posted.
Finally another warning about mobile phones and global roaming. Whilst global roaming is handy for phone calls and you can get yahoo mail, gmail and even flickr tools on your mobile phone and these will be able to roam with you but check the cost before you start using them overseas (data roaming charges are normally just straight up daylight robbery).
These beautifully camouflaged crabs where all over the beach this morning, and I though they would be easy to photograph with my telephoto lens (with macro feature). Well not exactly easy, because the translucent crab on sand gives little contrast for the autofocus to fix on and the camera was whirring away shifting the lens back and forth aimlessly. It was not until the crab crossed into my footprint that the camera had enough shadow contrast to focus properly.
Still in transit at changai, and still on the nature trail, this time at the orchid garden. Most of these are available light, but there is just enough of it (providing I breath out as I press the shutter and have anti-shake turned on). Now it is time to get up close and personal (and switch to macro mode)
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I'm not sure just how many photos where required for the 360 degree panorama. I have just used a few taken with my mobile phone and stitched them together with autotstitch. I wonder if google streets has captured a rainbow yet?+small.jpg)
There are lots of digital "community" sites all over the net, too many to mention, little lone review. However I reckon the PhotographyBB site may be worth a visit. Whilst they are Canadian based this month downloadable 
online magazine features some great images of the Australian Outback. The magazines alone are worth investigating and there is plenty of other stuff with of course ads as well (someone needs to support all the work). Unlike many other digital camera review sites they openly provide links in their news sections to manufacturers and distributors press releases, they do not cut & paste this advertorial copy and pretend it is their own.
Thanks to scuba_margie a fellow Australian Photographer!!! on flickr for this link.
PS:: Mr Daniel Mendes (with the made up address and probably name as well). CEASE & DESIST :: YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN FROM EVER COPYING ANY OF MY WORK AGAIN.
It is just natural that when you are photographing something to set the subject slap-bang in the middle of the picture. The problem is that this will make for a bland, dull, predictable results, the same sort of snap everyone else takes. I have eluded to the importance of composition as the big differentiator of interestingness in photographs. So here are a couple of "tricks" that can help make your photos look professional.
This should produce a more dynamic composition instantly. Placing the horizon in a landscape can be a classic example of this. Having the horizon close to the centre divides the image into two balanced parts, albeit a bit static.
This rule is often presented as gospel and trotted out as the main composition guide in many beginners guide to photography. All you need to do is imagine that the photo is divided into 9 equal panels, by division into thirds horizontally and vertically. Then Placing the subject at the intersections of one of the vertical and horizontal lines.
Don't stress this a good guide but not a rigid rule!
Filling the frame, even at the expense of trimming off some parts of the subject, is a simple way to generate more impact. Sometimes this may mean moving closer, zooming or swapping to a telephoto lens. But be careful in close ups you must remember about depth of field (focus) can be very limited.
So next time as well as taking your standard shots be brave a n experiment with the composition in the view finder, you will be surprised how it will bring variety and interest to your photos.
Kookabuarra. It only shows in some photos so I assume it is a retinal reflection in a particular direction (like some dogs eye reflect green or yellow in certain lights). Maybe there will eventually be a market for blue eye removal/reduction filters for bird photographers.
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